Mandarin

[Stephhk69]

Hi there, I am looking for an Independent school that teaches Mandarin as a GCSE and maybe A Level. Does anyone know of any school around the South West/South or Cheshire areas?
Thank you

[Happymummy007]

I know that Queen's School in Chester offers Mandarin right through from Reception year in the Junior School, and think it continues into the Senior School although don't know whether it offers GCSE in it. I would imagine it does - I think it has "Confucius" classroom status. Maybe their website could help?

[roguedad]

Abingdon does it to GCSE, and has a number of Chinese boarders. Also academically excellent and the most amazing choice of extra-curricular. My DS hope to start Mandarin in 3rd year next September. Boarding and Day.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

You don't mention whether it is for a girl or boy.
St Gabriel's in Newbury offers mandarin from year 1. There around a quarter of each year group take it at GCSE.

[roguedad]

Good point - for bright girls Oxford High is very strong on Mandarin - Y7, GCSE, A level all supported.

[PettsWoodParadise]

Newstead Wood in Orpington does it, but again a grammar not an Independent. Bromley High, Independent girls day school, part of the GDST had also traditionally done it. They used to do it in junior for a year but dropped that at short notice so may be focusing on availability in the Senior school to preserve the options but tread with care for any school as it can be dropped very quickly.

[PettsWoodParadise]

Realise these are not in your area but my point is the GDST seem to support it and any school can also drop the subject at short notice.

[whatwouldrondo]

Sevenoaks have a long running and effective Mandarin programme, leading to IGCSE and then options within the IB.

It isn't really an issue of whether schools offer Mandarin but whether they do so in a sound academic programme as opposed to cashing in on the fad. As a result of the fad there is a shortage of good Mandarin teachers, hence schools where the programmes have not been properly developed but rather just recruited the best teacher they could find in order to have it in their prospectus, are vulnerable to losing staff and pulling the option.

Also remember that no university will require the study of Mandarin as a condition of entry to their courses, but rather a foreign language. In some ways IGCSE level Mandarin without a proper cultural programme and focused on learning, I think, 150 characters, doesn't really prepare you for being a lifelong Mandarin speaker. (It tends to wither on the vine if not used regularly). And at university courses would have different focuses eg written Mandarin for academic study (eg SOAS) or spoken Mandarin for business (eg the Business and Mandarin options at Nottingham )

[alwayssurprised]

This thread got me interested and I just looked up the specimen papers for Chinese iGCSE, and apparently there are different options/levels, depending on whether the student is taking it as first language, second language or foreign language. It might be important to ask which options or level will your target school be offering or be able to support. The foreign language paper is far too simple for children with Chinese speaking background.

[Bombaybunty]

Epsom College teaches GCSE mandarin, not sure about A level.

[smellyboot]

The Manchester Rutherford school will once it opens